Almost everyone is familiar with what happened to the titanic during its maiden voyage and the tragedy that followed, but the construction of the titanic is often overlooked, despite being an amazing story itself, one that combined comfort and raw power with the world's foremost technological advances. Nonetheless, the seeds of the titanic's destruction were sown even before it left for its first and last journey. Similarly, the drama involved with the sinking of the titanic often obscures the important aftermath of the disaster, particularly the several investigations conducted on both sides of the atlantic that sought to figure out not only why the titanic sank but future changes that could be made in order to protect ships and passengers in the future. This book offers:

A detailed account of the titanic's construction and maiden voyage.

Insight into the lives of the passengers across all classes.

A minute-by-minute retelling of the disaster, including eyewitness testimonies.

The global aftermath and the impact on maritime laws.

The rediscovery of the titanic's wreck and its enduring cultural legacy. The sinking of the lusitania in 1915 was the first major event that shifted public opinion in the united states, and support for joining the war began to rise across the country. Many americans joined the preparedness movement, which advocated at least preparing for war if not entering the war outright, and though the country would not declare war against germany for two more years, the sinking of the lusitania is still cited as a key event that set america on the path toward joining the war.

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